~2 Months Later~
Marie ran to catch up with the boys, laughing once she had triumphantly jumped onto Niall's back. They'd slipped comfortably into a
relationship better than either had ever had. The fans were in an uproar. Half claimed they knew it would happen; the dedicated Larry
shippers were the loudest in that group. The other half was a mess, rioting at the two couples and badgering Liam and Zayn to break it up
and fix them.
Harry was okay after he'd gotten used to waking up without Marie by his side. Louis was in the habit of waking him up the same way she had
so he'd be happy. The curly boy still had to turn his head when his band mate would lean in to kiss Marie's laughing mouth. She was laughing
and smiling all the time now, Haz noticed. He hadn't made her that way, Niall had. His world was happier in the arms of someone else. All he
wanted was her happiness and she had it. Louis's kisses were just as sweet as they'd always been but now they held comfort and an escape
from Marie's smiling eyes.
Niall found every second of everyday absolutely exhilarating with Marie by his side. There was never a reason for either of them to not be
smiling. They knew each other so well and they fit together so seamlessly. Marie always knew what Niall would say on any subject and vice
versa, they completed each other's sentences in public. In private they didn't have to, they didn't really speak, everything was in their eyes.
Danielle and Marie had gotten really close, spending time together. Their friendship was a lot like how El and Maz's had been before her and
Harry'd broken up. The dancer grinned over her boyfriend's shoulder at the tiny girl on Niall's back. "Having fun?" She squealed when Liam
poked her in the side.
"Yes!" Marie laughed, hanging on tight to the blonde's shoulders as he jogged. The four made it to the doors, just beating the mass of girls
that were closing in. "Ny, love, how's this going to work?"
"We're each being interviewed separately as couples." Niall explained again, reaching back to smooth his girl's skirt against the back of her
legs as they were surrounded by men.
"I've got shorts on, love." Marie assured him quietly, kissing his neck.
Niall let her slide down and took her hand as the stagehand led them backstage. "Ready?" It was the first interview since they'd came out
about the breaking and making of couples. The blonde was nervous even with his light by his side, smiling confidently.
"Yeah," She whispered back, smiling brightly at the interviewer and sitting on the couch next to Niall.
"Hello," The older man greeted the couple.
"Hello," Niall replied just as Marie did. They leaned into each other, smiling before refocusing on the man.
"Niall, wow. You finally got the girl, if the rumors are correct, you've been chasing a long time." The interviewer, Dave, began. "How does it feel,
having her next to you rather than Harry?"
"Amazing. I love that you're mine, Maz." He turned to direct his answer at his girlfriend. "The rumors are true; I've loved you a long time."
"I love you, too, Ny." Marie put in before she could be interrupted.
"Marie, how do you feel about this? About Harry?" Dave asked.
"I'm happier than I've been in a long time. Harry and I were great in the beginning… but feelings change. I was falling in love with Ny before I'd
even realized it and by then my relationship with Haz was in the gutter." Marie replied, settling into the crook of her boyfriend's arm.
"The fans aren't taking it too well," Dave continued.
"We understand why they're upset, but they weren't inside the relationships like we were." Jello replied, speaking in unison again. They really
didn't notice anymore unless someone else pointed it out to them. "I'd be angry if one of my ships blew holes into another one of my ships,
too." Marie reasoned.
"That's really only something a fan would understand," Niall told Dave and tried to explain it. "Let's say a fan loved Marie and Harry together,
yeah? But also wanted Larry Stylinson to be real. That means they ship Marry and Larry. Seeing as Lou and Harry are together now… Larry
blew holes in Marry."
"Ah," Dave scratched his temple, the epitome of confusion. "Is it really awkward between you and Harry now, Marie?"
"No. We've actually slid back into the friendship we'd had before. There's no flirting now, but besides that it's the same." Marie smiled,
unconsciously playing with Niall's fingers on her shoulder.
Jello walked back stage, smiling at an inside joke. They'd both noticed how Dave's hair hung an inch to the left of where it was supposed to
be. They passed Harry and Louis who were moving onstage without looking away from each other.
The curly boy's face slipped into a grimace just as they got onstage. Louis squeezed his hand, reminding him he wasn't alone. The couple sat
down and Dave smiled at them.
"Hello boys."
"Hey Dave," Harry replied, forcing a smile.
The interviewer went through the same spiel with Larry as he had with Jello. When he got to the question about the level of awkward
between Harry and Marie both boys hesitated.
"It's not really awkward it's just different." Harry said carefully.
"How do you mean?" Dave leaned forward, interested.
"Well, I'm used to Weez being near me, you know? I'm used to waking up to her pounding on my door at some ungodly hour with some kind of
exciting news. Every day that I wasn't home I had a Skype message waiting for me and a text telling me about it." Harry's voice hitched and he
took a deep breath. "I'm not used to seeing her holding hands with Niall. When they're together it's obvious that, to them, they're the only
people in the world. It'd been like that for me, too."
"It's okay Haz," Louis whispered, resting his hand on his boyfriend's knee.
"You spent almost twenty minutes with them, you know what I mean." Harry finished, looking anywhere but at the camera or the interviewer.
"You're not happy?" Dave ignored the last comment to ask.
Louis flinched and Harry took his hand. "I'm happy. Boo's my best mate and you know what they say about the best loves being the best
mates first? It's true." Boo smiled and leaned in to kiss the curly boy's shoulder. "It's not that I'm not happy, it's just new for me. In my
defense, Marie and I only broke up two months ago and we were serious…"
Larry joined Jello backstage as Liam led Danielle on.
Niall was sitting on the couch and Marie was standing in front of him, waving her hands around dramatically. It was something she did when
no one understood what she was trying to say, Harry knew. The two boys sat next to their band mate.
"…She thought I was like, 10. I'm clearly not 10." She loosely outlined her body. Harry and Niall's eyes followed the motion of her hands.
"Mazzi, you're tiny." Niall tried.
"I'm tall." She replied stubbornly. The blonde took her hand and tugged. "No. No, not until you agree. You have to mean it."
"You're very tall, Maz." Niall told her very seriously. Marie beamed and let him pull her into his lap. The blonde tightened his arms around his
girlfriend. "In comparison to those toddlers," He laughed, pointing to the couple two year old-looking boys.
"I hate you!" Marie exclaimed, twisting and trying to get away from him. In their struggle she accidentally kicked Harry. "Oh sorry, Harry."
"When did you two sit down?" Niall asked and tucked his girlfriend under his chin.
"Five-" Lou began.
"Five minutes-" Harry wondered, looking over at his boyfriend.
"Yeah," Louis confirmed, nodding.
"Sorry, we didn't see you." Marie cocked her head to the side. "What's wrong, Haz?" The curly boy's eyes were red-rimmed just barely but it
was still noticeable.
"Nothing," Harry replied. He'd forgotten that the brown girl could read him so well. Amazing what two months apart could make you forget.
"Liar," She scooted closer to her ex, staying in Niall's lap. "What's wrong?"
